Chicago Coworking Spaces: Everything You Need To Know

Is it time to get your idea out of that second bedroom? Not ready to sign a lease for a workspace? You’ve got options. There are now at least six coworking spaces in Chicago, each with different amenities, pricing options and vibes. Let’s take a look.

The COOP is a neat, modern, open space located in a River North loft building. With white walls, floor-to-ceiling windows, trendy furniture, and unique art, the space gives off a youthful, hip vibe that makes it the ideal coworking space for artists, freelancers, and start-up entrepreneurs. Amenities include a spacious kitchen, wireless Internet, conference room with whiteboards, rental management on Desktime, and, oftentimes, an office dog named Eli. Open 24/7 every day except holidays, the COOP offers flexible hours and visiting frequency. Sign-up and pay for a singular daily rate, buy a Flex Card for five, ten, or twenty visits a month (it never expires), or get a monthly membership that includes your own key and desk.

Catapult Chicago is the home to more than a dozen startups. Part incubator, part accelerator, Catapult is 12,000 square feet of Class A office space in downtown Chicago. The application is based on “peer selection,” allowing founders of startups within Catapult to contribute to the decision making process.

Enerspace is a coworking spot that was built to enhance wellness. Located in the West Loop, the loft space includes a modern mix of brick walls, bright colors, and contemporary furniture with lots of natural lighting. Optimized for health and fitness, Enerspace features a fitness studio, yoga classes, a spacious kitchen and showers. Other amenities include free street parking, coffee, conference rooms and private offices, and wireless Internet. Rental options include daily passes, a ten-days-a-month option, and three types of monthly memberships (one of which has a dedicated desk and another is for a private office) that allow 24/7 access.

The Clubhouse at TechNexus is a cozy coworking space in the Loop with computer lab-style cubicles and a comfortable, colorful lounge. It’s managed by the Illinois Technology Association (ITA) so there’s a built-in tech community ranging from start-ups to senior executives, the Clubhouse offers conference rooms, full A/V capabilities, huddle rooms, a kitchen, and gym access. Members with a Clubhouse Key get secure 24/7 access and priority reservation for conference and meeting rooms. The companies-in-residence get dedicated desk space.

What happens when venture capitalists, universities and 100+ entrepreneurs work together in a big space in the Merchandise Mart? You get 1871. Mix in an Intelligentsia coffee shop and you’ve got all the ingredients you need to kickstart whole bunch of startup. This place suddenly feels like the center of the Chicago tech startup universe. It’s a versatile space on the 12th floor designed by Gensler to have plenty of conference rooms, classes, lecture, networking and an event space. There’s a lot going on in here. Code Academy is teaching. Bands have played. British Prime Minister David Cameron dropped by the check it out. It’s no wonder demand is high. There are three membership types: nights-and-weekends-only, shared desks and reserved/dedicated desks. The latter two get 24/7 access. Applications may take 2-4 weeks to process.

OfficePort ort Chicago is a Loop-located coworkingspace where each member has their own dedicated “port.” Ports include a desk, chair, and lockable cabinet, and other amenities of the space include conference rooms, a lounge, spacious kitchen, coffee, and an event room. The atmosphere is loft-like and industrial, with separate cubicles and white walls. Leasing is open-ended and monthly, and members get 24/7 secured access as well as such business technology as VOIP, scanning, faxing, and both wireless and high-speed Internet.

Panzanzee is a brand new coworking space that focuses on the incubation and development of social enterprises. More than just a space, Panzanzee aims to be a one-stop shop for entrepreneurs and professionals seeking social impact, offering assistance with concept, strategy, efficiencies, and funding. Located in River North, Panzanzee will feature open work tables, designated desks, a kitchen, a conference room and community events. Rental options include daily passes, ten-day passes and monthly memberships.